Biryani Spice Food

BIRYANI SPICE BLEND

Steps:

• In a small bowl, stir to combine spices. Store in an airtight container.

CHICKEN BIRYANI

Steps:

• In a large skillet, in 2 tablespoons vegetable oil (or ghee) fry potatoes until brown, drain and reserve the potatoes. Add remaining 2 tablespoons oil to the skillet and fry onion, garlic and ginger until onion is soft and golden. Add chili, pepper, turmeric, cumin, salt and the tomatoes. Fry, stirring constantly for 5 minutes. Add yogurt, mint, cardamom and cinnamon stick. Cover and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally until the tomatoes are cooked to a pulp. It may be necessary to add a little hot water if the mixture becomes too dry and starts to stick to the pan.
• When the mixture is thick and smooth, add the chicken pieces and stir well to coat them with the spice mixture. Cover and cook over very low heat until the chicken is tender, approximately 35 to 45 minutes. There should only be a little very thick gravy left when chicken is finished cooking. If necessary cook uncovered for a few minutes to reduce the gravy.
• Wash rice well and drain in colander for at least 30 minutes.
• In a large skillet, heat vegetable oil (or ghee) and fry the onions until they are golden. Add saffron, cardamom, cloves, cinnamon stick, ginger and rice. Stir continuously until the rice is coated with the spices.
• In a medium-size pot, heat the chicken stock and salt. When the mixture is hot pour it over the rice and stir well. Add the chicken mixture and the potatoes; gently mix them into the rice. Bring to boil. Cover the saucepan tightly, turn heat to very low and steam for 20 minutes. Do not lift lid or stir while cooking. Spoon biryani onto a warm serving dish.

BIRYANI SPICE

Steps:

• Mix the spices together until combined. You should have approximately 2/3 cup of Biryani spice, enough to make Biryani on four different occasions.
• At this point, you can store the biryani spice mix to use in any recipe that calls for it.
• If you use this blend in my Instant pot Biryani recipe, you will still need to add the 2 teaspoons of salt that the recipe calls for.

SPICED VEGETABLE BIRYANI

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 220C/gas 7/fan 200C. Pour the oil into a large roasting tin or ovenproof dish and put in the oven for a couple of minutes to heat through. Add all the vegetables to the tin, except the beans, stirring to coat them in the hot oil. Season with salt and pepper and return to the oven for 15 minutes until beginning to brown.
• While the vegetables are roasting, stir together the stock, curry paste, chilli, saffron and mustard seeds.
• Mix the rice and green beans with the vegetables in the tin, then pour over the stock mixture. Lower the oven to 190C/gas 5/fan 190C. Cover the dish tightly with foil and bake for 30 minutes until the rice is tender and the liquid has been absorbed. Stir in the lemon juice and check the seasoning, then scatter over the coriander and cashew nuts. Serve with a pile of poppadums and a bowl of raita.

AUTHENTIC SPICY CHICKEN BIRYANI

Steps:

• Marinate the chicken pieces in yogurt, 1 tablespoon ginger-garlic paste, red chili powder, and vinegar. Keep in refrigerator for about 1 hour.
• Soak basmati rice for 30 minutes in water. Drain. Fry the soaked rice in 3 tablespoons of ghee for only 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Set aside.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of ghee in another pan. Over medium heat, fry cloves, cinnamon stick, and bay leaves for 2-3 minutes. Add turmeric and onions and fry until soft, stirring constantly. Add the other 1 tablespoon of ginger-garlic paste and fry for another 3 minutes.
• Add tomatoes. Cook until very mushy. After that, stir in the salt and cayenne pepper and cook for 1-2 minutes.
• Add marinated chicken pieces and cook for 2 minutes, then mix in only half of the chopped cilantro leaves.
• Add coriander powder, garam masala, saffron threads, and chicken masala, frying together for about 5 minutes.
• Add the fried mixture to a pressure cooker with 3 cups of water and pressure cook for one whistle (or for roughly 20-25 minutes if you do not have a whistle mechanism).
• Remove from heat. Open lid when pressure is released. Stir in the fried rice and remaining cilantro and mix well. Pressure cook again for one whistle or 20 minutes.
• When done, sprinkle rose water over finished biryani and garnish with hard boiled eggs.